Fiat to introduce new models in small car segment soon

Published: Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 20:54 [IST]

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New Delhi, Jan.6 (ANI): Fiat has plans to introduce new models in the small car segment in the near future, revealed Rajeev Kapoor, Fiat India president and CEO, at the ongoing Auto Expo 2010 here on Wednesday.

Kapoor was speaking at the 10th India Auto Expo, where Fiat launched various versions of Linea, 500 and Punto.

"The market for small cars is expanding rapidly in India. Fiat Punto is representing in this segment. We will also bring more small cars soon. You will have to wait for a while," said Rajeev Kapoor, Fiat India President and CEO but did not specify any time frame for this.

The 10th India Auto Expo is the Complete Automotive Show organized jointly by Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

German Ambassador Thomas Matussek, who was present at the German spare parts stall, said that India is a potential market for Germany.

"We believe that India presents for us huge opportunities which are not self -evident worldwide specially in the present economic slump and Germany is coming out here in full force , a sends out a signal that India for us is not a client as for instance Polo and ...., we believe in a partnership of equals. We believe in the marriage of German technology and of Indian design and engineering and the child you can see very soon on Indian roads and we know this is a huge market. This is a young Market and believe me we will make it here," said Thomas Matussek, German Ambassador.

German carmakers Audi, BMW and Skoda launched dazzling new models at the exhibition on Tuesday (January 5).

Audi announced the release of its model, the A7 Sportback, and said the new model would hit Indian shores by 2011.

On Tuesday, Czech Republic-based carmaker, Skoda, a subsidiary of German auto-giant Volkswagen also unveiled the highly popular sports utility vehicle (SUV), the Yeti.

The showstopper, though, was the BMW display, which showcased their convertible, Z4, and the SUV, X1.

Car sales in India, world's second-most populous country, are set to jump about 16 per cent this year to 1.4 million vehicles, buoyed by robust economic growth and government incentives, in contrast to a slump in many developed markets. By Uphar Pandey (ANI)